Gardenia plant named ‘4BELLACJ01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct gardenia plant named ‘4BELLACJ01’ particularly distinguished by compact, dark green growth, dense branching habit and heavy flower production, plants having uniform growth under commercial production practices, and increased tolerance to root diseases, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gardenia jasminoides.

Variety denomination: ‘4BELLACJ01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of gardenia plant, botanically known as Gardenia jasminoides, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘4BELLACJ01’. This new gardenia plant originated from an open pollination conducted in 2009 in Dearing, Ga. between the female gardenia plant ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented) and an unknown male gardenia plant. The objective of the breeding program was to create a new gardenia plant with an early blooming habit, compact growth habit, easy-to-grow, and plants exhibiting cold hardiness.

Approximately 1400 progeny seeds resulting from said open pollination were planted in 2009. In 2010, progeny seedlings were planted in 2.5 inch liner cups and then in 2011 progeny seedlings were planted in 1-gallon containers. In 2013, progeny seedlings were planted in 3-gallon containers, inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi, and grown to evaluate disease response and production characteristics. The new variety was selected by the inventor as a single plant within said progeny in a controlled environment in Dearing, Ga. The new variety was selected based on its response to drought stress, disease, cold hardiness, and unique flowering and growth characteristics. ‘4BELLACJ01’ was first reproduced asexually by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings in October 2013 in Dearing, Ga. ‘4BELLACJ01’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and has been found to be stable and reproduce true-to-type through two successive generations of asexual reproduction by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘4BELLACJ01’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new gardenia variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, light intensity, water status, fertilizer rate and type, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new gardenia variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Dearing, Ga. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes ‘4BELLACJ01’ as a new and distinct variety of gardenia:

-   -   1. Compact, dark green growth, dense branching habit and heavy         flower production;     -   2. Plants having uniform growth under commercial production         practices; and     -   3. Increased tolerance to root diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new gardenia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including flowers and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of 3.6 to 4-year-old plants and 8-year-old plants grown in the ground and in 3-gallon containers in Dearing, Ga. The photographs were taken in May 2017 in Dearing Ga. under natural light and natural shade. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1. shows the original seedling and its overall habit, including flowers and foliage.

FIG. 2. shows a typical flower bud.

FIG. 3. shows typical foliage, flower buds and a flower.

FIG. 4. shows a close up of a mature flower.

FIG. 5. shows flower density.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 3-gallon containers when grown outdoors under a natural photoperiod in full sun in Dearing, Ga. Detailed descriptions were taken in 2016 and 2017 from approximately 4-year-old plants grown from single vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rubiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Gardenia jasminoides.         -   Common.—Gardenia.         -   Denomination.—‘4BELLACJ01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Gardenia jasminoides plant             ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—14 to 21 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—5 to 6 months, a             cutting placed in rooting media in approximately September             to October will be rooted and ready to pot in approximately             February to March the following year. -   Root description: Fibrous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, mounding.         -   Height.—52.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 95.0 cm after 8             years of growth.         -   Plant spread.—65.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 120.0 cm             after 8 years of growth.         -   Growth rate.—13.0 cm to 15.0 cm per year depending on             environmental conditions and plant's age, growth rate slows             as plants mature.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous when young, vigor slows as plants             mature.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Primary branches (one year or older).—Length: 13.5 cm per             year. Diameter: 0.4 cm at one year of age. Strength: Pliable             during the first year's growth and becoming stiff the second             year. Color: Mature branches: Green 139D, grey-brown N199B             and greyed-green 197C. Young branches: Grey-brown N199B and             green 140B. Texture: No pubescence.         -   Lateral branches (less than one year old).—Length: 4.81 cm             per flush. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Strength: Flexible. Aspect: 10             to 45 degree angles from other stems. Texture: Setulose             pubescence. Color: Immature branches are yellow-green 144A             and maturing to grey-brown 199B, and finally turning             yellow-green 144C with exfoliating bark colored grey-brown             N199B. Internode length: 1.67 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf type.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Primarily opposite with some whorled             leaves, 2 per node, sometimes 3 per node.         -   Average mature leaf size.—Length: 2.9 cm. Width: 1.03 cm.         -   Mature leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate to crunate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate with persistent sheathing             stipules at the apex of the node.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Internode length.—1.75 cm.         -   Leaf texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous, waxy. Bottom surface:             Glabrous.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green 143C. Lower             surface: Yellow-green 144C. Mature leaves: Upper surface:             Green 139A. Lower surface: Green 138B.         -   Leaf venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Green 143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Bloom period.—Primary bloom period is typically May in             Dearing, Ga., blooming occurs sporadically through summer             and fall.         -   Type.—Perfect flower.         -   Arrangement.—Single flower at apex of stems and occasionally             at leaf axils.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:             Yellow-green 144A. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Slightly             pliable, breakable with force.         -   Height (depth).—5.2 cm from attachment to stem.         -   Diameter.—6.0 cm.         -   Facing direction.—Outward.         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Typical gardenia fragrance.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: 1 row of petals. Length: 2.5 cm from             fusion with the flower tube. Width: 1.6 cm. Apex: Unevenly             rounded, oblique. Base: Fused tube. Shape: Obelliptical,             obovate. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy and reflexed.             Quantity: 6, occasionally 5. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Upper surface at first opening: 155C. Outer surface             at maturity: White NN155D with a strip on the outer petals             of white 155A. Inner surface at maturity: White NN155D.             Upper and lower surfaces at fading: Yellow 10C and 11B.         -   Buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 3.7 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm.             Color: Yellow-green 144B. Texture: Glaborous.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 6,             occasionally 5. Calyx arrangement: Star-shaped. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate and fused to the base. Length of sepals:             Extending 1.5 cm beyond calyx. Width of sepals: 0.2 cm at             point of fusion to the calyx. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Inner             surface: Yellow-green 144B. Outer surface: Yellow-green             144C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 6, occasionally 5. Length: 1.3 cm, no             filament, base is fused to petal corona. Width: 0.1 cm.             Anthers: Aspect: Lying flat between petals, often recurving             slightly. Length: 1.3 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color:             Greyed-orange 164A and yellow-white 158A, outer surface is             greyed-white 156D. Pollen: Amount: Moderate. Color: Yellow             10A.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: 4.0 cm. Style:             Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color: Yellow 11D. Stigma:             Shape: Obovate with 2 irregular shaped lobes, stigma measure             1.0 cm in length by 0.5 cm in width. Color: Yellow 10D.             Ovary: Type: Inferior within calyx cup. Length: 0.2 cm.             Diameter: 0.2 cm. -   Cold tolerance: Hardy to USDA zone 7 with current evaluations of     cold hardiness in USDA zone 6. -   Disease and pest tolerance: Tolerance to root diseases has been     observed, but not under controlled conditions. Susceptible to insect     pests common to gardenia, such as scale and whitefly. -   Fruit description: Swollen calyx with sepals remaining from flower,     fruit measure 2.5 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, color is     yellow-green 144A and becoming orange-red in winter. -   Drought tolerance: Tolerance to periodic drought stress has been     observed in container grown plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the female parent plant ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented) in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has a denser, more compact branching habit than ‘Frostproof’. Additionally, ‘4BELLAJ01’ has single flowers, whereas ‘Frostproof’ has double flowers.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the commercial gardenia variety ‘PllGA-1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,510) in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has a more compact growth habit with plants measuring 52.0 cm by 65.0 cm after 4 years of growth, whereas plants of ‘PllGA-1’ measure 75.0 cm by 75.0 cm after 5 years of growth. Additionally, leaves of ‘4BELLACJ01’ are narrow oblanceolate, whereas leaves of ‘P11GA-1’ are elliptical. Furthermore, when compared to ‘P11GA-1’, ‘4BELLACJ01’ has an improved production consistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga.

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the commercial gardenia variety ‘MADGA 1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,988), in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has more vigorous growth measuring 52.0 cm by 65.0 cm after 4 years of growth, whereas ‘MADGA 1’ has growth measuring 23.0 cm by 16.0 cm after 3 years of growth. Additionally, leaves of ‘4BELLACJ01’ are narrow oblanceolate, whereas leaves of ‘MADGA 1’ are ovate to obovate. Furthermore, when compared to ‘MADGA 1’, ‘4BELLACJ01’ has an improved production consistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of gardenia plant named ‘4BELLACJ01’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 